USASF : BREAKING NEWS

Hey Breaking news

On the 28/03/2012

USASF released statement stating that they are implementing new rule changes to level 5 categorise, image of athlete and etiquette which will come into effect in 2012-2013 season.

These are the changes

Tumbling

– Standing fulls and standing double fulls are not allowed

– Double fulls are only allowed in running tumbling and must be preceded by a back handspring

– Consecutive bounding, twisting skills are not allowed

Age Grid

– All Open teams (5 and 6 [also Open 4 if it is added in the future]) must be 17yrs old and older

– Eliminate the International age rule for U.S.A. teams. – All athletes on USA teams must be of the

legal age according to the age grid by August 31 of that season. This includes Worlds. The rule,

an athlete may be younger than the allowed age as long as he/she becomes of the legal age by

the calendar year of the competition, no longer stands.

– Eliminate Mini L3

– Eliminate Youth 5 Restricted by placing additional limitations on Youth 5

No tumbling  double fulls

No kick doubles in baskets

Braced flips may not twist

Youth top age is raised to 12

No longer separate Junior Coed 3 and 4 from their counterpart All Girl team

I don’t fully have an opinion on this topic yet but empathies with people who have been working endlessly for years to require these skills now to be told they can no longer be performed. I’m a bit confused as to how this will push the sport forward. USASF states

“One of the primary concerns related to the negative impact of the increased focus on elite tumbling skills.  Most programs report an increase in the number and severity of injuries as the tumbling skills become more difficult.  The focus on elite tumbling also restricts the growth of the sport because it limits the type of athletes who can compete”

To be implemented during the 2012-2013 Season(online)2012/http://usasf.net.ismmedia.com/ISM2//News/Rules%20to%20implement.pdf(29/03/12)

I can’t see why there would think elite tumbling restrict growth. I’m nothing but inspired when I watch elite tumbling it makes me train harder just like when I see someone hyper extended in and toe touch. Furthermore doesn’t that mean that  Organizations/coaches need to step up to the plate and get properly educated to obtain proper safety skills and to teach  correct technique.

I’m really confused about USASF vision, I can’t see how this will better the sport my heart literarily sank when I read the rule changes. This document has not even been out 24 hours and Usasf has been trending on twitter people are up in arm with frustration and rages.

Tori Hardy Head coach of Unity Allstars posted this comment “Some horrible decisions from #usasf yesterday, wonder whether they considered any of the international teams when making these new rules!”2012

Tori Rubin (Hardy)2012/twitter{online}20/03/12//https://twitter.com/#!/coachtori/29/03/12

And

There is already a petition on line and many coahes have sent emails explaining their disappointed.

Courtney Smith-Pope Head coach of Cheer extreme posted on twitter

“Athletes KEEP these tweets coming.. You are the most unified group of teenagers in all of America. You have a voice make it heard

CourtSmithPope(2012)twitter{online}29/03/12/ https://twitter.com/#!/CourtSmithPope/29/03/12

And

“Insurance and safety worries = propaganda techniques used for years by governments to control the sheep. Not buying it.”

@CourtSmithPope(2012)twitter{online}29/03/12/ https://twitter.com/#!/CourtSmithPope/29/03/12

Everyone seems blind sighted by these changes and we can only hope that revision are made because everyone isn’t happy and as for British cheerleading I’m not sure how this will affect our ruling ,will we follow in suit or adapted these rules to suit out cheer cultural.

If you want to read USASF Ruling please go and check it out at  http://usasf.net/news/?id=279

and to sign the petition go to http://www.change.org/petitions/usasf-iasf-repeal-the-new-2012-2013-all-star-rules

Love cheer from head to toe